Marking device



Ap 1930- F. w. SPELLMEYER 1,756,141

MARKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1927 4 lNVENTOR 9 W ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 29, 1930 UlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARKING DEVICE Application filed December 24, 1927. Serial No. 242,504.

The object of the invention is the provision of a marking device of simple, sturdy and economical construction, readily refillable and particularly suited to the purpose hereinafter explained. I

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one of thenumerous forms in which the inyention can be embodied, Fig. 1 being an elevation, Fig. 2 a larger scale sectional view of the marker body on the line IIII of Fig. 4:, Fig. 3 a. preferred, although merely illustrative, form of closure and mounting, Fig. l an end view of the showing of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 an end View of a modification.

The marker consists essentially of a body portion -1 constituting a container for the marking medium and suitably apertured as at 2 to provide a discharge outlet, the outer end of the aperture preferably being flared,

as shown. The end of the body remote from the aperture 2 is open and preferably threaded interiorly as at 3, the body thus being readily castdesirably of aluminum. The

. aperture 2 is normally closed by a valve 4:

which is urged to closing position by a light spring 5, which may be held in place by the threads 3 or otherwise. The end of the valve projects through the aperture 2 so as to be opened by the application of pressure thereon, in opposition to the spring 5, after the manner of ink-markers. Contrary to such devices however, the present invention is suited to the marking of putting greens and the like to indicate the position from which a. lifted ball, or a number of balls (as in competitive putting) is to be played. The closure for the body is therefore desirably constituted by an elongated handle which permits of the use of the marker without the necessity of the user stooping to the ground and which also enables the marker to be carried in the golf bag with less likelihood of loss and available to the players as the occa'sion arises. Specifically, the handle 6 has an exteriorly threaded cap 7 secured to it,

as by a screw 8, the cap threads co-operating I with the body threads 3 to hold the body in place and effectually close the container, at the same time providing for ready detachment for re-filling; any other suitable form of closure or connection between the handle and the marker may be used, and, if preferred, the elongated handle may be dispensed with. Similarly the marking medium may be one of a number of substances, preferably of light color so as to be readily visible on the green; I have found that talcum powder serves the purpose well, as do the fertilizer compounds which it is customary to use on putting greens and the like.

As a means of preventing accidental opening of the valve 4 and consequent spilling of the contents of the container, as for example when the marker is dropped in the golf baghandle end uppermostI have shown, in

Figs. 1, 2 and 4;, a number of rigid, upstanding projections or guard elements 9 which are long enough to extend at least as far as, and preferably somewhat beyond, the end of the valve 4. In using the marker these projections will penetrate the green and so permit the green surface to open the valve and deposit a small quantity of the marking medium, the projections also serving to position the marker at the chosen spot and to prevent departure therefrom as pressure is applied to the handle. In the form shown in Fig. 5 these same functions are served by the continuous, upstanding flange 10, although they may be accomplished otherwise, as will be apparent.-

In Fig. 1 the end of the marker handle remote from the body is shown as carrying a club head 11, the handle 6 being readily fashioned to receive, say, the head of a putter, and so, if desired, avoid the necessity of carrying a separate implement for putting.

The particular shape of the marker body is a matter of choice but it is preferably cylindrical and the handle, or other closure, of an equal diameter so that when assembled the whole presents a neat and pleasing appearance.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

A marking device comprising in combination, a container for the marking medium, a discharge outlet therefor, a valve controlling said outlet and projecting therethrough for operationby pressure against the suface to & in"

be marked and one or more rigid guard elements upstanding adjacent and protruding at least as far as the end of the valve, whereby pressure of the device against an unyielding surface is ineffective to open said valve. 7 In testimony whereof, I have signed this 7 specification. 

